Crystal Palace and Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways when they lock horns at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
The curtains will fall on Gameweek 13 of the 2025/26 Premier League season on Sunday. The proceedings on the day begin with Crystal Palace vs Manchester United at Selhurst Park before the action ramps up with other matches.
Crystal Palace’s recent slump gave way to a consistent run of results for a few weeks, albeit primarily in domestic competitions. However, the South London club’s five-game unbeaten run ended earlier this week, as RC Strasbourg beat them 2-0 in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday. However, positive results in the Premier League have lifted them to fifth on the table.
On the other hand, Manchester United’s promising unbeaten run ended earlier this week, as they crashed to a 1-0 defeat to Everton at Old Trafford. The Red Devils produced a toothless display and failed to create a convincing opportunity despite having a numerical advantage for most of the game. Ruben Amorim’s charges are now three matches without a victory, and the winless streak has invited backlash from fans.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a goalless stalemate, even though Crystal Palace and Manchester United mustered a combined ten shots on target. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner has a new injury concern that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Crystal Palace manager may be bereft of the services of as many as half a dozen first-team players vs Manchester United on Sunday.
Glasner is sweating over Will Hughes’s fitness after the experienced midfielder picked up a knee injury earlier this week against RC Strasbourg. The 30-year-old faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Borna Sosa (knock), Rio Cardines (groin), Caleb Kporha (lower back), Chadi Riad (knee), and Cheick Doucoure (knee) remain in the treatment room, although Riad is closing in on returning.
Dean Henderson is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Crystal Palace lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Saturday. The central defensive unit will feature Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, and Marc Guehi. Meanwhile, there is no looking past Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell as the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will protect the centre-backs and provide width in the final third. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada in the central areas. Finally, Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead the line for Crystal Palace, with Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino completing the numbers in the offensive third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Yeremy Pino; Mateta
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Crystal Palace dugout, Ruben Amorim has no new issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager will be without three first-team players on Sunday.
Harry Maguire (hamstring), Matheus Cunha (knock), and Benjamin Sesko (knee) remain in the treatment room. The trio should return in the foreseeable future, with Cunha coming back in the upcoming midweek Premier League clash with West Ham United.
Senne Lammens is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Crystal Palace on Sunday. The central defensive unit will feature Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Luke Shaw. Meanwhile, Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot will start as the two wing-backs, with Patrick Dorgu dropping to the bench.
The wide duo will provide width in the final third and protect the centre-backs during the defensive phases. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the central areas. Finally, Bryan Mbeumo will spearhead the Manchester United attack against Crystal Palace, with Mason Mount and Amad Diallo completing the supporting cast.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Lammens; Yoro, de Ligt, Shaw; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Dalot; Amad, Mount; Mbeumo
Key Stats
- Crystal Palace have won three of their last four Premier League games vs Manchester United (D1), as many as they had in their previous 30 meetings (W3 D6 L21). The Red Devils have failed to score in their last four Premier League matches against Crystal Palace; only against Blackburn Rovers (1920-1922) and Everton (1971-1973) have they ever failed to score in five consecutive league ties.
- Manchester United have won only three of their last 26 Premier League away games against London clubs (D7 L16), with all three victories coming against Fulham. Since the start of this run in April 2023, no side has lost more away matches in the capital than the Red Devils (16).
- Only table-toppers Arsenal (6) have let in fewer goals than Crystal Palace (9) in the Premier League this season. It is the South London club’s fewest goals conceded after 12 games into a league season since 1981/82 (also 9).
- Manchester United’s Premier League games have produced a higher expected goals total than any other side this season (37.1 – F20.1 A17). Crystal Palace rank fourth in this regard (35.1 – F20.6, A14.5).
- Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home games (W6 D6), previously only once having a longer run without defeat at Selhurst Park in the top flight (17 between February and December 1990).
Prediction
Bruno Fernandes
While Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaila Sarr, and Bryan Mbeumo were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Bruno Fernandes as the Player to Watch for Sunday’s Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park.
The Manchester United captain has created more chances than any other player in the Premier League this season (31). The experienced playmaker is also one of only two players (along with Phil Foden) to create ten or more from both open play (20) and set plays (11). For Manchester United to return to winning ways, Bruno Fernandes must be at his best this weekend.
Prediction
Crystal Palace 2-1 Manchester United
Manchester United will be desperate to end the recent winless streak and prove that the positive run of results before the defeat to Everton was not a flash in the pan. Ruben Amorim, in particular, will be eager to prove his naysayers wrong. However, while the away side will produce an improved performance this weekend, they will not have enough quality to trouble Dean Henderson.
The visitors may still trouble the scorers, but the Eagles are better-placed to clinch all three points. The home side’s physicality will also trouble Manchester United, and a narrow victory is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Oliver Glasner and his charges.
